Rene Meulensteen believes that Ruben Amorim has very little time to turn the tide at Manchester United before he faces being sacked after a rocky start to the new Premier League season
Ruben Amorim looks dejected
Ruben Amorim has received a stark warning about his time left at Manchester United
(Image: 2025 CameraSport)
Ruben Amorim will be sacked by Christmas if he doesn't change his approach at Manchester United, according to Rene Meulensteen.
The Portuguese tactician has failed to bring about a marked improvement at Old Trafford so far this season, despite receiving a substantial backing from the board over the summer and being afforded a full pre-season tour to settle his squad. The 40-year-old suffered a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on opening day, before mustering a draw against Fulham and a win over a newly-promoted Burnley.
However, Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium showed major holes in Amorim's system, as Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners on home soil while United failed to get going. And with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Brighton to play across their next five outings, Meulensteen believes that the outlook is far from positive.
Meulensteen, United's former first-team coach, told football betting site BetVictor: "Could Ruben Amorim be gone before Christmas?, Absolutely, he could well be. And I think if he keeps being as stubborn as he is and the results don't improve, he doesn't keep winning, then there's definitely no other way than the club has to make a decision.
"I mean, how long are you going to keep traveling in the wrong direction? Every game and every week it's like, ‘Well, let's hope and see what we get this week.' Maybe you get the odd result like you did against Burnley, with a last-minute penalty to get that one over the line. Otherwise, they would have not won a game.
"They've got some tough, tough fixtures coming up, but like I said, there is definitely a possibility he goes in the next few months. If you lose to City, 3-0, but all the pundits can understand, it wasn't a 3-0 game, United really played well, they were unlucky, then maybe it would be different.
Rene Meulensteen looks on
Rene Meulensteen has delivered a grim verdict on Ruben Amorim's future
(Image: 2019 AMA Sports Photo Agency)
"But that wasn't the case. If the performances are not good and the results are not there, then you're going to get this question from week to week. It's just a continuation of the poor start to the season, which I was afraid of.
"I said he actually needs to win seven to eight of his first 10 games to reinforce that he has been able to do some work and that he believes in what he wants to do. But all this gets overshadowed by performances and results like this.
"You continuously get the same questions and reactions in the media about the system, and he says he won't change. He says if anything is going to change, then they have to change him. If he keeps that approach, then I think there's only one way he's heading: to the exit.
"I can't see anything different. So where does that leave United again? Where they left off last year, and that's where you don't want to be."
Ruben Amorim walks on
Ruben Amorim has struggled with Manchester United
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Amorim was afforded leniency as he guided United to a lacklustre 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season, given he worked largely with the squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag in November. The Manchester Evening News reported on Monday that Amorim retains the support of the United hierarchy despite the club's worst start to a season in 33 years.
The head coach was given the green light to spend big this summer, splashing out more than £200million on the likes of Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, while also strengthening in between the sticks with the acquisition of Senne Lammens after poor showings from Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana.
With a tough clash awaiting them against Chelsea at Old Trafford come Saturday, fans will be eager to see an improved United performance. However, Enzo Maresca has cultivated an impressive squad of his own this summer, as evidenced by a four-game unbeaten streak in the league.